NBA Signs Kalshi and Polymarket Amid Betting Scandals
The league added new prediction market partners and a regulatory agreement with the CFTC while three players and a coach face criminal charges related to gambling.
By Stella Brooks ·
The NBA announced new betting partnerships on Monday while three of its players and a coach face criminal charges related to gambling schemes. The league signed preferred partner agreements with Kalshi and Polymarket and expanded its existing deal with DraftKings to include prediction markets.
These new deals allow the prediction market platforms to use official league data and intellectual property. The NBA also established a new integrity framework for these relationships. This framework sets limits on the types of markets that can be offered and requires the partners to share information about suspicious trades and investigations with the league.
The NBA also signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This agreement outlines how the commission will manage its relationship with the league as it integrates these new betting products.
The move comes as the league deals with ongoing legal issues. Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in 2024 over a gambling manipulation scheme. Malik Beasley is reportedly negotiating a plea deal on similar charges. Former player Terry Rozier and coach Chauncey Billups are currently under indictment for allegedly rigging prop bets and poker games, respectively.
Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA head of media distribution and partnerships, stated that protecting the integrity of the game is the league's top priority. The NBA said it will announce further expansions of its betting partnerships in the near future.
